Customer Reviews

Three Weeks with My Brother

5 star:		(154)
4 star:		(44)
3 star:		(9)
2 star:		(10)
1 star:		(28)

 

 

To begin with, I have to say that Nicholas Sparks is my absolute favorite author. I am usually one of the first in line to purchase his books on the day of their release. I go home and "gobble" it up as fast as I can, then am disappointed for the other 364 days of the year until his next novel is released. I've always wished he would release more than one novel in a one year period, and was thrilled when he began releasing twice a year. Sadly, this is the last year for that, and next year I will go on yearning for a Nicholas Sparks book for a little more than 11 months of the year!

That said, after reading his memoir, I can now understand why he only publishes only once a year, and appreciate his work that much more. His family comes first, and although he loves to write and is honored by his readers' attention & devotion, he simply does not want to spend any less time with his family than he absolutely must. In order to fulfill this need, we as readers must savor the books we are given, and anxiously await his next delicious read.

I was deeply touched by the relationship Nicholas has with his brother. Being the only surviving members of the Sparks family, they have a deep bond, and their admiration and love for one another is obvious in the words on the pages, and even in the smallest of photos in the book. It most certainly deserves the attention this book calls to it, and I can only imagine that some of the readers whose views are printed here must be envious of this bond, lacking the love & support of their families, which the Sparks brothers so deeply cherish.

If you know anything about Nicholas Sparks and read the book's jacket, you must certainly know that this is NOT a travel book! The trip around the world only serves as a setting for the brothers to reminisce and share the stories of their childhood and the roads they led, and how the effects of these events shaped their lives & made them into the successful, respected men they have grown to be. The trip around the world was a celebration of sorts, for these two brothers who have shared the most painful experiences two brothers can share, yet carried on and persevered. The book was not written to describe the places they saw and encourage others to visit these places. The trip served as inspiration for Nicholas to share HIS STORY, demonstrating to others that you can survive life's most painful experiences with the love & support of family.

If you knew anything about this book beforehand, you also know that the book was written entirely by Nicholas, and Micah was included because of his inspiration, and how Nicholas' admiration for his brother led him to share their story!! Although Nicholas did all the writing, this story is as much Micah's as it is Nicholas', and both brothers are deserving of its credit.

Although the book is a memoir, Mr. Sparks remains true to his craft, and at times, you may think you are reading his next novel, and forget that these events actually happened to one family. It is because of these events, we as readers have been treated to wonderful, endearing stories of love, courage, strength and the bonds of family. We can truly appreciate the love & connection of Noah & Allie, understand why Jamie was so forgiving, strong & courageous, and see just how difficult is must have been for Denise to bring words to the lips of Kyle. The characters of Sparks' novels have been mostly inspired by members of his family, and it because of the tragic events of his life, we as readers have been treated, and come to love novels like THE NOTEBOOK, MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE, A WALK TO REMEMBER, THE RESCUE and THE WEDDING.

I anxiously await the release of Sparks' newest novel this fall, and while I'm still disappointed that I will again have to wait an entire year for his next book, I can now understand why I have to wait, and it only makes me more appreciative of his work, and treasure all of his stories that much more.

Thank you Nicholas - for opening your heart, inviting us in, and sharing your life. You will always be my favorite, and your memoir has only made me cherish your writing that much more!

Like the other reviewer, I picked the book up on a whim at the airport. It was an easy read but also an emotional one. Mr. Sparks talks about the importance of balance in one's life - Between family, work, friends etc. And that if one becomes all encompassing, then your life becomes out of sync and out of balance. He also talks about the importance of family, and as he discusses the loss of his parents and sister, it reminded me that although my wife and kids are the focal point of my life, that I've been letting the relationship with my siblings pass me by, and that you never know when they will be taken away, and then it's too late.

A very good book with a simple but yet also complex point.

Nicholas Sparks made a million dollars off his first novel, "The Notebook." His books have been made into movies. Some might say he lives the charmed life. So why should we care that he got to travel around the world with his brother? Who wants to read about spoiled rich people and their international trots?

This book will convince you to look at others through a new set of glasses. Not only does "Nicky" reveal the wonders and shortfalls of cultures from Cambodia to Easter Island to Norway, he also shows us the heartbreak of his own family. Without revealing all, let me say that he tells a readable tale of his own childhood, spliced in with scenes of his three week journey with his brother. At times, the story is laugh-out loud funny; at others, it is sobering and poignant.

Yes, I may have harbored a bit of envy for Mr. Sparks' "charmed life." Now I harbor feelings of admiration, compassion, and brotherhood. Thank you, Nick, for opening your heart and your life to encourage those of us traveling the same path.

This book is one of the best books I have ever read. The stories Sparks tells about his experiences made me laugh out loud at times and made me cry at others. This is not only his story of a trip around the world with his brother, but a story of growing up and the tragedies they have faced together. His story is a special one and one definately worth reading. I will be reading this one over and over again.

Different from his other novels, Sparks's latest creation is a memoir; a trip around the world to exotic places with his beloved older brother Micah sets the stage for this author to tell readers the story of his life.

From Easter Island to Ethiopia, from the Killing Fields of Cambodia to a dogsled ride in Norway, Sparks tells of growing up in poverty with his parents and siblings. Three in all, sister Dana is the youngest and the only girl; as the middle child, Sparks tells of his many insecurities growing up--with Dana being "special" as the only girl (they had exactly the same birthday but only Dana would get parties) and Micah being the bigger and better older brother--better at everything--it is amazing that the author was able to stay positive and maintain the extreme love for his siblings as he so clearly does. Adulthood, while not spent in the same poverty as his childhood seems beset with tragedy; sudden deaths, terminal illnesses and the like. Through it all, the author of course survives and one can only marvel at his strenth and courage.

While not the usual fictional story of love that he is known for, this memoir seems to me to be one long autobiographical love story...the love of the author for his parents, his siblings, his wife and his family. And apparently for his readers for bestowing upon us a gift such as this.

DYB

Three Weeks with My Brother is two books in one. The author did a nice job of weaving together two 'good' but separate stories into one GREAT single story. The transitions are seamless. The TCS Heaven & Earth a Journey travel tour would be an exciting subject just by itself, however more importantly in this case it serves to set the stage for the two Sparks brothers to reminisce and reconcile their childhood lives and come to a deep appreciation of what it was like to grow up together. The sometimes offensive and juvenile conduct on the trip lightens the sadness of the main story which is being told at the same time. I personally think that this "ugly American" behavior serves to balance or reduce the sad/negative impact of the Sparks childhood tragedies on the reader. On the upside, throughout the book you can hear their parents repeating some GREAT parenting words of wisdom. For instance: "What you want and what you get are often two entirely different things." and "Nobody ever said life was fair, it's your life - do with it whatever you like." My parents said many of the very same things for example when I was a kid and was confronted with an unusually large task. They would say: "See how fast you can get it done." or "If you are in it - get in it, otherwise get out." They said them so often that the words rolled off their lips as if they were gospel. I believe that is why these types of pearls of wisdom are still with me today and more importantly I use them on my own kids.
Speaking of kids, with both of their parents working to support the family, the Sparks children were given a long leash. As you might imagine with so much freedom growing up they managed to get themselves into mischief without much difficulty. Over the course of their world tour, it is THESE stories that the brothers tell that make the book so enjoyable. A couple of other funny things that stuck with me were the stories about family "default" Christmas gifts, like a "family" stereo and don't forget the personal headphones to match or better yet every kids dream - a carpenters hammer!! As a kid if you have ever received something like a file cabinet as a Christmas gift you will be able to relate.

The part about the "feast or famine" mentality when it came to sweets in the house was hilarious! These episodes included such things as eating an entire box of sweet cereal or an entire bag of their dad's "hidden" Oreos in a single sitting!! My brothers & I did the same thing!

The final couple of chapters are filled with both joy and pain. It makes for an interesting AND emotional read. - I liked it enough to read it twice!

I must say, if you are looking for specific travel information on Tikal, Guatemala * Lima, Cusco & Machu Picchu, Peru, Easter Island * Samoa * Ayers Rock, Australia, Angkor, Cambodia * Jaipur & Taj Mahal, India, Lalibela, Ethiopia * and Valletta & M'dina, Malta then this is the not the book for you.

I say buy this book if, like the Sparks brothers, you wish to enjoy a short trip back to the fond memories of your childhood. I did.

Three Weeks with My Brother is one of the best non-fiction books I have ever read. It really gives you an insight into the life of Nicholas Sparks which you will realize is portrayed in almost all of his books. You get a tour of the world(per se)with a complete insight into who Nicolas Sparks really is and how he got to where he is now. Excellent book!

Somewhere around forty years of age one begins to think differently of that brother that we picked on when younger. About that time mortality in the forms of parents growing old and passing on. The bloom of first love is long past and the spectre of divorce court may have appeared. Somewhere around this time you begin to realize that your brother is about the only family you have left.

Nicholas and Micah Sparks set off on a vacation together that took them to several exotic places around the world. Outwardly this is a trip of a lifetime to these wonderful place. But inwardly the trip may have even more exotic. This is a time for two men to bond together, laying aside the childhood differences from their growing up years and preparing them for the years yet to come.

I've been there with my brother, but certainly don't have the literary skills to make a record like the one here. The best I can do is to send my copy of the book to my brother.

I've read almost all of Nicholas Spark's books and after reading Three Weeks With My Brother, I felt that it provided great insight into the author. After reading about everything he and his family have been through, I can really see why he puts his heart into every book that he writes. When you read this book, you not only found out more about the author, but also about the places that he's traveled that may of us will never be able to see. I liked this book because I think it is actually two books in one, a travel log and a memoir.

I'm a big Nicholas Sparks fan and as with his other books got it as soon as it came out and read it the same day. It's definitely one of the best books I've ever read and I'm recommending it to all my friends. I like the way Nicholas mixed the round-the-world trip with vignettes about the family. He made it tender, sweet, funny and sad. Keep a hankie nearby though....you'll need it.